Replacement bodywork and hardware

I've got an 87 VFR and I'm looking at purchasing 2 new side fairings (the large ones that cover the engine) for it. I've see the stuff from VFR Chuck on ebay and from airtech. I'm not sure which one I'm going to go with yet, but that's not why I'm posting.

On the factory body work there are hardware fasteners that are riveted in place. My question is, how did you treat these? It seems to me that I'll need to drill the rivets out, then take the hardware off, then simply rivet it on to the new body work after I've established where it goes.
I'm concerned about cracking the new body work if I use a rivet gun to place the hardware on the new fairings. Is this a justified concern? Any tips or tricks when putting the fairings/hardware together for fitment etc on a 1st generation VFR?

Thanks!

 

Last I knew chuck offered all holes pre drilled and also all necessary hardware pre riveted for an extra $20.

Airtech does not.